Rotterdam calls for Food Act amid high unhealthy food availability

A report titled ‘De Voedseldrukmonitor’ by Amsterdam UMC reveals that 96% of food outlets in Rotterdam offer an abundance of unhealthy food. Furthermore, 96.5% of secondary and vocational schools are located in environments where the food supply is classified as very to extremely unhealthy.

In response to these findings, the City of Rotterdam, along with ten other municipalities and the province of Zuid-Holland, is calling on the national government to implement a ‘Voedselwet’ (Food Act). Local officials argue that municipalities currently lack the legal instruments necessary to regulate the food environment or prevent new unhealthy vendors from entering the market.

The proposed measures include a ban on marketing unhealthy products to children, a sugar tax on sweetened beverages, and making healthy food more affordable through initiatives such as a 0% VAT on fruits and vegetables.